WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital – Wheeling, WV
The American Orthopaedic Association would like to highlight one of our outstanding Own the Bone enrolled sites that have embraced the mission of improving bone health and enhancing patient care, Wheeling Hospital! By participating in the Own the Bone program, the hospital is committed to providing comprehensive fracture prevention and management, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care. Join us for our Q&A with their team as we explore the ways this hospital is making a meaningful impact in the lives of those at risk for osteoporosis and fractures.
Can you tell us a little bit about your institution?
Wheeling Hospital, founded in 1850, has served patients longer than any other hospital in West Virginia. Today, it is a 223-bed acute care facility with a medical staff of over 225 primary care and specialty physicians. It provides a wide array of primary and tertiary care services. In addition to the hospital, the complex includes the Continuous Care Center and the Howard Long Wellness Center. Connected to the hospital are four medical office buildings. In addition, Tower 5 features a state-of-the-art Emergency/Trauma Center, Center for Pediatrics, intensive care units, physician offices, and private patient rooms.
Why did you join Own the Bone?
Our facility recognized the need and the potential benefit to our community and patients by implementing the Own the Bone program. Own the Bone offers numerous monthly outstanding educational sessions and provides countless opportunities for increasing one’s knowledge base through educational materials on the Own the Bone website. Starting the Own the Bone program here in Wheeling would not have been nearly as successful without the expertise and guidance of Dr. Colleen Watkins and her amazing staff at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV.
What does your current Own the Bone program look like?
Currently, our Own the Bone Program consists of our physician champion Dr. Ivan Tarkin and myself, Toni Nucci-Rinkes RN, BSN, Program Coordinator. Through the program, we are able to see any inpatients with an acute fragility fracture. We also have used the Population Health platform to spread the Own the Bone message to countless members of the community through health fairs and Physician Outreach programs.
A Message from their Program Leadership
“As we look into the New Year and the direction of our Own the Bone program here, the sky is the limit. Here at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, we are committed to helping our patients and the community improve their bone health by providing them access to this amazing program. Since its inception here at Wheeling Hospital a year ago, we have seen over 260 patients and reached countless members of the community via our health fairs, earning the program Star Performer status and the privilege of being featured in US News and World Reports “Best Hospitals” rankings. Becoming involved in the Own the Bone program is another example of the commitment Wheeling Hospital has to not only our patients but to our community as well. I am excited to see the difference it is making, along with the improvement of bone health here in the valley.” – Toni Nucci-Rinkes RN, BSN, Program Coordinator